“Development is occurring where people are gaining the self-confidence, motivation, character traits, and knowledge needed to tackle and solve the problems they have by actually tackling and solving those problems.”
Roland Bunch, 1985, Two Ears of Corn
The problem
Subsistence farmers in Malawi struggle with hunger for much of the year, sometimes relying solely on herbs harvested from the bush, the chaff of corn, and unripe mangoes for sustenance. Their income is very limited, typically earned through seasonal daily labor, such as working in the fields. Literacy is very low, with many adults never having gone to school. Many children are kept out of school simply because their families can’t afford basic items like bathing soap to appear clean, laundry soap to wash their clothes, and pens and notebooks for class.
Self-Reliance for Food Prosperity Project
Launched in June 2023, the Self-Reliance for Food Prosperity Project works with 200 farmers across three villages in Mangochi District, Malawi. The model will be implemented for four years in each geographic area, with plans to expand to adjacent villages in 2027.
The project has two primary objectives:
- Empowering Farmers: Farmers are trained and mentored in the skills necessary to lead their own development process long after the project ends. Skills include problem-solving, decision-making, group collaboration, planning, and experimentation with new farming techniques. The aim is for farmers to take ownership of their own development and embody the skills and motivation to take charge of their own lives.
- Improving Food Security and Income: Project staff initially teach improved agricultural practices, such as growing vegetable gardens, producing homemade fertilizer, and utilizing cover crops to increase productivity. Surplus crops are sold for profit.
Dreams to Degrees Scholarship Program
In our community, most families rely on subsistence farming for their livelihood, with only a few teachers and small shop owners. For many, the prospect of a college education seemed like an impossible dream—until Pamodzi Community Development launched Dreams to Degrees Scholarship Program in 2022. Since then, we have proudly supported 12 students pursuing higher education in fields that offer strong career prospects, such as teaching and nursing.
In addition to college scholarships, Pamodzi provides tuition assistance and career counseling to high school students, helping them focus their exams so they may gain admission to their college program of choice. Looking ahead to 2025, we plan to provide girls with reusable menstrual products to ensure they can attend school without interruption due to a lack of supplies.
The Clean Water Access Project
When Pamodzi began working with the community in 2021, there were not enough water points to meet the needs of the population. The boreholes were either malfunctioning or serving too many people, leading to long queues. Others were located too far away for many women and girls to access easily, forcing them to walk up to a quarter mile just to fetch clean water. Those who lived farther still drew contaminated water from ground seeps.
Between 2021 and 2023, Pamodzi Community Development worked to address this issue by establishing seven new water points across three villages. This initiative included the construction of six boreholes and the installation of a solar-powered system with two taps, serving 400 households, or about 2,000 people. Today, water management committees oversee the collection of user fees and ensure regular maintenance of the boreholes and hand pumps, ensuring their long-term sustainability.
